Dispenser for cigarettes



Aug' 12, 1947. H. E. MUssELMAN Er Al. 2,425,553-v DISPENSER FORCI'GARIETTES Filed Feb. 2&5,4 1944 INVENToRs. 1 /V @a/M Patented Aug.12, 1947 OFFICE DISPENSER FOR CIGARETTES Henry E. Musselman and WilliamH. Buck, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Application February 28, 1944, Serial No. 524,286

(Cl. S12-47) 3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in dispenser for cigarettes.

'I'he main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a dispenser for cigarettes cr the like in which theobjects may be dispensed or projected to grasping position one by one bymerely tilting or rocking movement of the boxlike receptacle.

Second, to provide a structure having these advantages which is verysimple and economical and not likely to get out of repair.

Third, to provide a structure having these advantages which may beproduced in very attractive forms and designs.

Objects pertaining to details and economies of the invention willdefinitely appear from the description to follow. The invention isdeiined in the claims.

A structure which embodies the features of the invention is clearlyillustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a structure embodying ourinvention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the manipulation oi thestructure to dispense a -cigarette.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section on a linecorresponding to line 3 3 of Fig. 4 with the iilling door or closurepartially open.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on line d-l of Fig. 3 with cigaretteswithin the magazine.

in the embodiment of the invention illustrated the box-like receptaclecomprises a base I, a tcp 2, fixed side panels 3 and 4, rear wall 5 andfront wall 6. The transverse partition 'I divides the receptacle into amagazine or article compartment 8 and an ejector compartment 9. Themagazine compartment has a side opening for nlling provided with aclosure I!) which is slidable in grooves II and I2 provided in the topand bottom members, the top and bottom members also being grooved toreceive the other wal1 panels. The filling opening being so disposedfacilitates positioning the cigarettes in the magazine compartment intwo side by side parallel stacks, as shown in Fig. 4.

A channel I3 is formed in the bottom member to receive a singlecigarette or object to be dispensed indicated at I4. This channelextends into the ejector compartment to receive the slidableplunger-like ejector I5. The front wall has an opening I5 therein alinedwith the channel. The ejector has an opening Il receiving the end of theejector lever I8 which is iixed to a pivot pin I9. The weight 20 isconnected to this pivot pin, the pivot pin being mounted in the opposedwalls. The weight is normally positioned forwardly and above the pivotpin |79 so as to retract the ejector plunger when the receptacle is inupright horizontal position as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. When thereceptacle is tilted rearwardly as shown in Fig. 2 the weight acts toproject the plunger and thus Aeject a cigarette or article to bedispensedto position to be grasped as shown in Fig. 2. `When therecepta-cle is restored to horizontal position the plunger is retracted,allowing a cigarette or other article to be dispensed to drop into thedispensing channel so that on a further tilting operation a succeedingarticle is projected.

It will be noted that the width of the magazine is approximately twicethe diameter of the two cigarettes or objects to be vended, as shown inFig. 4, and that the upwardly projecting rib on the bottom memberforming the channel is of a widthcorresponding to the diameter of thecigarette or object to be. vended. 'I'his is important as it preventsthe articles becoming wedged in the magazine. The cigarettes, forexample, are maintained in two columns and when a cigarette is ejectedfrom the ejecting channel the right-hand column drops down and acigarette from the left-hand column, as viewed in Fig. 4, rolls into theright-hand column. This preventing of wedging is an important factor asshould wedging occur, it would be likely to result in an injury to thecigarette and when one is broken, it would probably be necessary toremove them all from the magazine to clear out the fragments of thebroken cigarette.

The structure illustrated embodying our invention is very simple,attractive in appearance, and has an appeal for the user in 'that themeans for ejecting the article dispensed are entirely concealed. All theuser has to do is to tilt the receptacle downwardly to project anarticle for grasping and swing or tilt it forwardly to upright positionto recharge for a succeeding operation.

We have illustrated our invention in a very simple embodiment. It willbe understood that the invention may be embodied in receptacles of awide variety of shapes and for the dispensing of articles other thancigarettes. We have not attempted to illustrate or describe thesevarious adaptations as it is believed this disclosure will enable thoseskilled in the art to embody the invention as may be desired.

Having thus described our invention what We a side opening for lling andwitha slidable closure for said opening, there being 'a channel 'at thebottom of the magazine compartment adapted to receive a single articleto be dispensed, said channel being formed by a stepped bottom wall insaid ejector compartment, the front wall'of said magazine compartmenthaving a discharge opening alined with said channel, an `ejector plungerslidalole in said channel and having opening therein adjacent Yits rearfend, and` ejector plunger supported in the ejector compart- Weightedlever' xed to a pin pivotally mounted Within said ejector compartment toengage said opening in said ejector plunger, said weight beingeccentrical'ly Xed on 4the lever pivot pin to normal'ly retract theejector plunger when 'the VreVm ceptacle is in an upright horizontalposition ian-: to :actuate'the ejector to ejecting position 'when thereceptacle is tilted rearward-ly from such :a

position. Y

v2.V In a dispenser for cigarettes'and the like, the 'combination of vabox-likevreceptacle having a'transvers'e partition therein with itsIlower ledge spaced above the :bottom voft-he receptacleproviding'iafmagazine Acompartment and an ejector compartment, lthefront wall of 'said magazine compartmentY having -a Vdischarge opening,an ejector plunger supported in the ejector compartment and disposed to'operate from said ejector compartment into said magazinefcompartmentandhaving an opening therein adjacentits re'ar' end,l and ia leverpivotally mounted within said Iejector 'compartment to engage said'opening in'saideiecto'r plunger, a V'Weight Xedly connected yto saidlever and A,positioned vforwardly Aof and :above the axis lof the leverpivot to normally retract thefejector -plunger when the receptacle s-iinfanlupright Ahorizontal position and to actuv4 ate the ejector toejecting position when th receptacle is tilted rearwardly from such aposition, said Weight constituting the sole actuating means for saidlever and ejector when the receptacle is tilted.

3. In a dispenser for cigarettes and the like,

the combination-of a box-like receptacle having a transverse partitiontherein with itsllower edge spaced yabove the bottom of the receptacleproviding a magazine compartment 'and an ejector compartment, the frontWall of said magazine 'compartment having a Ydischarge opening, an

ment and operable transversely of said partition "from the ejectorchamber into the magazine --chamber, and an actuating lever pivotallymountedwithin said ejector compartment and operatively connected withsaid ejector plunger,

a'weight'xedly connected to said lever and positioned forwardly of andabove the axis of the lever pivot to normally retract the Vejectorplunger when the receptacle is in an upright horizontal position and toactuate the ejector to ejecting position when the recepta'cle'is tilted,said Weight constituting the sole actuating means forisaigd lever andejector when `the receptacle is; tilted.

HENRY MUSSELMAN,

WILLIAM H. BUCK.

REFERENCES .CITED The following 'references are of record 5in --tl'ie

